Anthropic has introduced a Model Hardware Standard (MHS) research preview that aims to help AI agents operate physical laboratory and industrial equipment. Early pilots at Genentech, HHMI Janelia Research Campus and quantum-computing company QuEra show the approach being applied to lab automation, microscopy and laser control. The significance is not simply that an AI model can issue commands. MHS is intended to reduce the friction of connecting agents to varied hardware and software while r...